By Our Web Desk
LAHORE– The Interior Ministry has approved a request by the National Accountability Bureau to declare their Lahore office a “red zone” and for security to be provided to the bureau on the day of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s hearing.
Maryam has been summoned by NAB on March 26 in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, as well as the purchase of land in Raiwind.
According to sources, the Punjab government’s sub-cabinet committee on law and order approved the declaration of the NAB office as a red zone during Maryam’s appearance. NAB had cited fears of a possible attack on its building the day the PML-N leader is expected to appear.
Sources said approval has been granted for Punjab Rangers and police personnel to be deployed within the NAB office and surrounding areas on March 25 and 26.
Punjab Minister for Law Raja Basharat has said that no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands and strict action will be taken against those who disturb law and order and violate coronavirus safety protocols.
In August last year, when Maryam had been summoned by the anti-corruption watchdog to respond in a case of alleged illegal transfer of government land, violent clashes between PML-N workers and police took place.
Whereas Maryam branded the incident “state-sponsored terrorism” and said the government is “afraid of losing grip on power”, NAB said it had never in its 20 years of existence ever experienced such “hooliganism” whereby its offices were vandalized.
While Maryam accused the police of firing tear gas shells and baton-charging party workers, and moreover of a deliberate attempt to cause her injury, the government said the violence was initiated by PML-N which has a “history” of “launching attacks against law enforcement”.
